New blog

This new blog represents an ongoing exercise of some of the knowledge I've gleaned along the way. I invite you to take a look:

mentalhealthforhumans.blogspot.com

MSW Portfolio Interview Questions and Responses

Interview Questions

How would you describe yourself personally and professionally?

I would characterize myself as affable and gregarious, first and foremost. I find people to be fascinating, and I genuinely enjoy having conversations with others, whether with friends or professional colleagues. I place a high premium on interpersonal interaction; I think human beings are, for the most part, social creatures, and I view my ability to connect with others as an enjoyable privilege. I love to explore ideas with people. I love to thoughtfully reflect on my own ideas and beliefs, and to challenge them. As such, growth is a central tenet of my life. It is very important to me to pursue my interests, and to learn all I can about them – both for its own sake, and so that I might put that knowledge to good use somehow. An extension, perhaps, of my need for growth is that I am very ambitious. I tend to view life as a series of opportunities: to meet new people, have new experiences, try new foods and activities, and to improve myself and my ability to be useful to others.

These descriptions are apt in both personal and professional settings.

What approach do you generally use when working with a client?

My answer to this question is at least partially contingent on the work phase, agency setting, and client characteristics. That being said, my work approach is generally guided by the strengths-based perspective, as well as a respect for the client’s personhood. My work is client-focused, and periodic self-reminders to that end are useful aids to my observation and listening skills. It is crucial, in my opinion, to effectively engage and join with clients, and very good listening, in my experience, is perhaps the single greatest servant of those objectives.

Another important guiding principle of my work with clients is well-indicated by the axiom, “seek always to understand.” I have found it to be a powerful objective; for me, it informs the context and purpose of my work with clients, which in turn guide my focused listening. Furthermore, seeking to understand, I find, allows me to be authentically present with, and responsive to, clients.

How do you think you will develop professionally in the next two years?

I think the next two years represent the early exploratory phase of my career. I have a number of practice interests as I finish graduate school, and I hope to have the opportunity to cultivate them over the next two years and beyond. Additionally, though, I look forward to discovering and cultivating new interests, perhaps by working with populations or in practice settings which are as-yet unfamiliar to me. In essence, then, I am approaching these next two years of my professional life with an open mind: I will strive to learn, and to push myself to grow. 

Listening Skills Seminar

I created and delivered this seminar through my second year field placement site, the Binghamton University Counseling Center. It aligns with a component of University Counseling Center's responsibilities, namely, to support students' well-being via outreach education.

In this case, the Residential Life committee of a dormitory community determined its RAs and students could benefit from instruction on effective listening skills. A representative of the committee contacted the Counseling Center, and I was soon informed of this very appealing opportunity.

I created the enclosed presentation from scratch, and presented it, generally speaking, in a somewhat conversational style. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.

nathan.gismot@gmail.com